Unemployment rates increased in eight U.S States in June, with the national rate remaining stable at 4.1%.
The rate decreased in one state and remains stable in the remaining 41 and the District of Colombia, as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Compared to 2023, 31 states and the District are experiencing higher jobless rates.
Two have seen decreases and 17 states have had minimal changes.
The national unemployment rate is 0.5 higher than last year.
Unemployment Rates
- South Dakota recorded the lowest unemployment rate at 2.0%, followed by North Dakota and Vermont at 2.1%.
- Arizona achieved a new series low with an unemployment rate of 3.3%.
- The highest unemployment rate was in the District of Columbia at 5.4%, followed by California and Nevada at 5.2% each.
- 26 states had unemployment rates below the national figure of 4.1%, while four states and the District had higher rates, and 20 states had rates similar to the national average.
Monthly Changes:
- Rates increased in eight states, with the highest changes in Kansas, Massachusetts, Missouri, Ohio, and South Carolina (+0.2 percentage points each) and smaller increases in Georgia, Minnesota, and Utah (+0.1 points each).
- Connecticut was the only state with a rate decrease (-0.4 percentage points).
- The rates remained stable in 41 states and the District of Columbia.
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Annual Changes:
- Rhode Island saw the largest annual increase in unemployment rate (+1.7 percentage points).
- Arizona and Mississippi experienced decreases of -0.5 and -0.3 percentage points, respectively.
- 17 states had unemployment rates that were not significantly different from those of a year earlier.
Nonfarm Payroll Employment
In June 2024, nonfarm payroll employment rose in eight states, while 42 states and the District of Columbia saw no significant change. The largest employment gains were recorded in:
- North Carolina (+23,100 jobs)
- Massachusetts (+19,000 jobs)
- Virginia (+15,000 jobs)
The highest percentage increases were seen in:
- Arkansas, New Hampshire, and New Mexico (+0.6% each)
This report includes data from two monthly programs: the household survey, which measures the civilian labor force and unemployment, and the establishment survey, which tracks nonfarm employment, hours, and earnings by industry.
